Frante (Ash), June 13, GNA-A month-long educational programme to sensitise the public on women's empowerment, environmental hazards and the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its prevention was on Friday launched at Frante in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District.

Women's rights and responsibilities, the taming of the environment and dangers associated with HIV/AIDS infections would be highlighted during the campaign.

The launching of the campaign was jointly organised by the Women Empowerment and Health Network (WEHNET), an Ejura-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), NIANOA Environmental Human Development Organisation, another NGO with funding from the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC). Launching it, Madam Elizabeth Owusu, the Ejura-Sekyedumase District Chief Executive, said women's education must be given greater importance if women were to take the centre stage in community affairs. She therefore, urged the government, parents and all stakeholders in education to create an enabling environment for women to pursue quality education as their male counterparts.

The DCE stressed the need for women to be assisted to become full partners in the national reconstruction exercise and integrate their concerns into government policies and programmes. Gender equity, Madam Owusu said, "should be part of our way of life. It should be seen as natural and not something we should fight or struggle over".

Madam Owusu noted that People Living With AIDS (PLWA) died quickly more from stigmatisation and discrimination they suffered than from the disease and therefore, advised the public to show love and sympathy towards those with the disease.